Restaurant in Hangzhou, China
Michelin-value vegetarian dining off the tourist trail.
Zhi Zhu is Hangzhou's most credentialled vegetarian address at the ¥ price tier, holding back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2024 and 2025. It is the value entry point into serious Chinese vegetarian cooking in the city, sitting well below the price of starred peers like Fu He Hui in Shanghai. Book for weekday lunch and go before post-Michelin crowds arrive.
If you are choosing between Zhi Zhu and one of Hangzhou's mid-range Zhejiang restaurants, the differentiator is simple: Zhi Zhu is vegetarian, and it has earned back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2024 and 2025 to prove the format works at this price point. For non-vegetarians weighing it against 28 Hubin Road or Xin Rong Ji, the decision comes down to whether you want a plant-based focus or a broader Zhejiang menu. For anyone already interested in vegetarian fine dining in China, Zhi Zhu is one of the few addresses in Hangzhou with a credentialled track record.
Zhi Zhu sits on Jianguo North Road in Hangzhou's Xiacheng District, a part of the city that draws less tourist traffic than the West Lake corridor. That address alone makes it a more considered choice: you are coming here because you want to eat here, not because it is convenient to your hotel. The Bib Gourmand designation, awarded at the ¥ price tier, signals good cooking at accessible prices — a meaningful signal in a city where serious vegetarian restaurants often skew expensive or institutional.
The cuisine type is listed as vegetarian, and the Michelin recognition confirms the kitchen is working at a level above the average plant-based canteen. Hangzhou has genuine depth in vegetarian cooking, partly through its Buddhist culinary tradition, which means Zhi Zhu operates in a category with real local context and real local competition. Venues like Fu Quan Shu Yuan and Pu Zhu work in adjacent territory. Against that backdrop, back-to-back Bib Gourmand years is a meaningful differentiator, not a coincidence.
For the food and travel enthusiast looking for depth, the relevant comparison is national rather than just local. Fu He Hui in Shanghai holds a Michelin star for vegetarian cooking and operates at a significantly higher price point. Lamdre in Beijing approaches vegetarian cuisine through a Tibetan lens at ¥¥¥ pricing. Zhi Zhu's position at the ¥ tier with Bib Gourmand credentials makes it the value entry point in this national conversation, which is genuinely useful information for anyone building a China itinerary around serious vegetarian eating.
On the editorial angle of beverage depth: the database does not confirm a wine program, and at the ¥ price tier in a Chinese vegetarian restaurant, a curated wine list would be atypical. Tea pairings are far more likely to be the serious beverage offering here, which is consistent with both the price tier and the culinary tradition. If beverage pairing matters to your experience, factor that in. For a more elaborate drinks program alongside food at this level in Hangzhou, L'éclat 19 at ¥¥¥¥ is the address to consider, though the food format is entirely different.
Timing matters at Bib Gourmand venues in China. Lunch on weekdays is typically the easiest booking window; weekend evenings at credentialled addresses in Hangzhou fill quickly, especially since the city draws significant domestic visitors. Given a Google rating of 3.8 from 61 reviews — a relatively small review sample , the venue has not been overwhelmed by tourist traffic, which suggests booking is currently easier than at higher-profile addresses. That can change quickly after Michelin recognition gains wider circulation.
For context on the broader Hangzhou dining scene, see our full Hangzhou restaurants guide. If you are building a wider trip, our Hangzhou hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest of the city.
Other vegetarian-leaning addresses worth checking in Hangzhou include Er Ba Jiu Su Mian Guan, Nature's Own, and Qing Chun Perma. For broader Chinese fine dining context from other cities, 102 House in Shanghai, Xin Rong Ji on Xinyuan South Road in Beijing, Xin Rong Ji in Chengdu, Chef Tam's Seasons in Macau, Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine in Guangzhou, and Dai Yuet Heen in Nanjing provide useful points of reference for the wider regional category.
| Detail | Zhi Zhu | Fu He Hui (Shanghai) | 28 Hubin Road (Hangzhou) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price tier | ¥ | ¥¥¥¥ | ¥¥¥ |
| Award | Bib Gourmand 2024 & 2025 | Michelin Star | Michelin recognition |
| Cuisine | Vegetarian | Vegetarian | Zhejiang |
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Hard | Moderate |
| Location | Xiacheng, Hangzhou | Shanghai | Hubin Road, Hangzhou |
Zhi Zhu is a Michelin Bib Gourmand vegetarian restaurant in Hangzhou's Xiacheng District, operating at the ¥ price tier. That means credentialled cooking at accessible prices. It is not a tourist-facing address , the location on Jianguo North Road is off the main visitor circuit , so come with a specific intention to eat here rather than as a convenience stop. The Google review count is low (61 reviews, 3.8 rating), which suggests it has not yet been overwhelmed by post-Michelin crowds. Go sooner rather than later.
At the ¥ tier with back-to-back Bib Gourmand recognition, yes , the value case is strong. Michelin's Bib Gourmand is specifically awarded for good food at moderate prices, so the credential directly addresses the value question. Compare it to Fu He Hui in Shanghai, which delivers starred vegetarian cooking but at a much higher price point. Zhi Zhu is the more accessible entry point into serious Chinese vegetarian cooking.
Seat count is not confirmed in available data. At the ¥ price tier, Chinese vegetarian restaurants in this category tend to be compact. For groups larger than four, it is worth contacting the venue directly before assuming availability. The address is 建国北路80号, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou. Phone and booking method are not currently listed, so arriving with a confirmed reservation or early on a weekday is the safest approach.
No dress code is specified, and at the ¥ price tier with a Bib Gourmand positioning, smart casual is appropriate. This is not a formal dining environment. The venue's Michelin recognition reflects cooking quality, not formality of setting.
For vegetarian-focused eating at a similar price point, Er Ba Jiu Su Mian Guan, Pu Zhu, and Nature's Own are worth considering. If you want Zhejiang cuisine rather than a vegetarian focus, 28 Hubin Road at ¥¥¥ is the credentialled mid-range option. For a higher-end Zhejiang experience, Ru Yuan at ¥¥¥¥ is the step up. See our full Hangzhou restaurants guide for the complete picture.
Tasting menu availability is not confirmed in current data. At the ¥ price tier, a multi-course tasting format would be atypical, though some Bib Gourmand vegetarian restaurants in China do offer set menus at accessible prices. Check directly with the venue. What the Bib Gourmand credential does confirm is that whatever format the kitchen uses, the cooking quality justifies the spend.
It depends on what kind of occasion. For a celebratory dinner where formality and a wine program matter, Zhi Zhu's ¥ tier positioning is likely too casual , consider Ru Yuan or L'éclat 19 instead. But for a meaningful meal with someone who appreciates serious vegetarian cooking at an accessible price , or for a food-focused traveller treating themselves to a Michelin-recognised address , Zhi Zhu is a well-justified choice.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhi Zhu | Michelin Bib Gourmand (2025); Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) | ¥ | — |
| Xin Rong Ji | Michelin 1 Star | ¥¥¥ | — |
| 28 Hubin Road | ¥¥¥ | — | |
| Ru Yuan | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| L'éclat 19 | Michelin 1 Star | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| Song | Michelin 1 Star | ¥¥¥ | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Zhi Zhu is a fully vegetarian restaurant on Jianguo North Road in Hangzhou's Xiacheng District, away from the West Lake crowds. It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for both 2024 and 2025, meaning Michelin inspectors rate it as exceptional value at its price point. The ¥ price range makes it one of the most accessible Michelin-recognised restaurants in the city. Go in knowing the entire menu is meat-free — that is the concept, not a caveat.
Yes, by any objective measure. The Michelin Bib Gourmand is awarded specifically to restaurants offering good cooking at a price below the fine-dining threshold, and Zhi Zhu has held it two consecutive years. At ¥ pricing, there is very little risk here — this is one of the lowest-stakes, highest-credibility bookings in Hangzhou.
There is no group-booking policy documented for Zhi Zhu, but at this price tier and neighbourhood location, smaller groups of 2-4 are the safest assumption for a smooth visit. For larger parties requiring private dining rooms or set banquet menus, a larger Hangzhou restaurant like Xin Rong Ji would be a more reliable choice.
Zhi Zhu is a Bib Gourmand venue at ¥ pricing in a low-key Hangzhou neighbourhood — there is no indication this is a formal-dress setting. Clean, comfortable casual attire is appropriate. If you are combining the visit with a West Lake or Xiacheng itinerary, wear what you would for a neighbourhood lunch out.
For Zhejiang cuisine in a grander setting, Xin Rong Ji and 28 Hubin Road are the obvious step-up options, though both sit at significantly higher price points. Ru Yuan and Song offer refined Hangzhou-style cooking closer to the West Lake area. L'éclat 19 is the choice if you want a French approach in the same city. None of those are vegetarian-focused, so if that matters, Zhi Zhu has no direct comparable in Hangzhou's Michelin pool.
Tasting menu details for Zhi Zhu are not publicly documented. What is confirmed is a ¥ price range and two consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand awards — both signals point to strong value at whatever format the kitchen runs. If a tasting format is a priority for your visit, confirm directly with the restaurant before booking.
It depends on what you mean by special. For a low-key, meaningful meal — a birthday dinner for someone who eats vegetarian, or a deliberate off-the-beaten-path Hangzhou experience — Zhi Zhu is a well-considered choice backed by two years of Michelin recognition. For a high-ceremony occasion where setting and service formality carry as much weight as food, 28 Hubin Road or Xin Rong Ji would serve the moment better.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
